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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

New Orleans, LA vs Baton Rouge, LA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Baton Rouge spends 24.8% more per capita than New Orleans ($10,902/person difference). Baton Rouge, LA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
New Orleans, LA
Pop. 380,408
C
52/100
Budget Balance70
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency29
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Baton Rouge, LA
Pop. 225,500
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
New Orleans
Baton Rouge
Total Spending
$12.5B
$9.9B
Spending / Capita
$32,984
$43,886
Total Revenue
$12.0B
$19.3B
Revenue / Capita
$31,427
$85,687
Total Debt
$870.3M
$0
Debt / Capita
$2,288
$0
Population
380,408
225,500
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
New Orleans$0
Baton Rouge$1,820
Fire Protection
New Orleans$1,044
Baton Rouge$1,140
Highways & Roads
New Orleans$271
Baton Rouge$589
Parks & Recreation
New Orleans$966
Baton Rouge$758
Education
New Orleans$951
Baton Rouge$0
Health
New Orleans$507
Baton Rouge$2,058

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

New OrleansBaton Rouge
Property Tax
$62
$0
Sales Tax
$327
$488
Income Tax
$993
$2,296
Intergovernmental
$3,013
$949
Charges & Fees
$3,241
$0
Other
$5,501
$7,610

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

New OrleansBaton Rouge
Police
$0
$1,820
Fire Protection
$1,044
$1,140
Highways & Roads
$271
$589
Education
$951
$0
Public Welfare
$1,197
$2,691
Health
$507
$2,058
Hospitals
$5,002
$4,729
Parks & Recreation
$966
$758
Housing
$4,479
$7,045
Sewerage
$161
$236
Utilities
$4,300
$2,413
Interest on Debt
$0
$1,735
General Admin
$1,865
$4,492
Other
$12,243
$14,181
C
New Orleans, LA
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health
B
Baton Rouge, LA
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

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